The 2012 Presidential Debates begin Wednesday, October 3rd MORE ON PAGE 16
INSIGHT NEWS October 1 - October 7, 2012 • MN Metro Vol. 39 No. 40 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com
Harry Colbert, Jr.
Comcast vice president, Susan Jin Davis speaking with Ahmed Haji, as his son, Abdullahi Haji, 8, and daughter, Shamso Haji, 8, look on. The family won a free laptop computer during a recent Internet Essentials event held at the downtown Hennepin County Library
The author with family circa 1960s
Photos courtesy of Irma McClaurin
The Henry Horner projects circa 1965
Comcast makes internet accessible:
WANTED: A caring and compassionate Dungy named spokesman presidential candidate for the 47% By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer
I confess. I am now, and probably always will be, a member of the 47% about whom Presidential Candidate Romney has voiced his disrespect and disdain. I am African-American. I was a single mom after my divorce. I was a college student who received a government subsidized student loan. When I was a child, my divorced mom received benefits from Aid to Dependent Children
Commentary
By Irma McClaurin, PhD Culture and Education Editor
(ADC). I am a working woman. And yes, I voted for President Barack Obama four years ago, and damn proud of it. I am in the ranks of the 47%. Having said that let me clarify for Romney and his camp a few misconceptions about the 47%— in my life experience, most of the people I knew who received government subsidies didn’t want them. A few lacked the skills and/
or education to get jobs at a livable wage. Others had childcare responsibilities at a time when it was not socially acceptable for women to leave their children in the care of others, and Head Start did not exist. Also, it was believed that a woman’s place was in the home, and while Black women had always worked historically,
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With a broadening student achievement gap between African-Americans and whites, especially when it relates to lowincome households; Comcast has a program it says can help close the divide. In its second year, Internet Essentials offers low-income households reduced Internet rates and an opportunity to purchase personal computers at a reduced rate. Officials with Comcast believe this program can help
in bridging the growing gap between the haves and have nots. “We all know the Internet is a transforming technology that went from something people thought was nice to have to something people need to have,” said Susan Jin Davis, vice president of communications and data services for Comcast Cable. “Unfortunately, there is about 30 percent of the area population who cannot access the Internet at home due to economic circumstances.”
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Dateline Spain: Places to visit By Abeni Hill Insight Intern SEVILLE, SPAIN - It is still a scorching 90 degrees over here in beautiful Seville. These past few weeks I have been spending part of my time in a classroom (three hours a day, five days a week to be exact) reviewing the ever so important grammar rules of the Spanish language. Afterwards, I have had the opportunity to visit culturally rich places around the city of Seville. While I would love to give you some grammatical insights,
Golden Knights Skydiving Team
Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon’s tandem skydive with her “Golden Knight” jump partner, Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Figel
Abeni Hill
Plaza de España
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By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer
NIELSEN STUDY
Black media more ‘relevant’ to Black consumers By George E. Curry NNPA Editor-in-Chief WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Companies that fail to advertise with Black media are missing an opportunity to effectively reach nearly 43 million African Americans whose $967 billion annual buying power is projected
Lt. Gov. Prettner Solon skydives to support troops
to exceed $1 trillion in three years, according to the new study released by Nielsen and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA). “Still the largest racial minority group in America, with a projected buying power of $1.1 trillion by 2015, Black consumers remain at the forefront of social trends and media consumption,”
Aesthetics
Cirque Du Soleil’s “Dralion”
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the study found. The findings were released Friday at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Legislative Conference. “Our collaboration with the NNPA has been successful,” said Susan Whiting, vice chair of Nielsen, a premier global information and measurement company. “NNPA’s insertion
Business
Business profile: Bill Ashford
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of the report into its 200 publications allows Nielsen access to millions of AfricanAmerican consumers, and allows us to share vital information that will help increase the awareness of Blacks’ consumer power.” And according to the report, that power is considerable.
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Minnesota Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon wanted to do something to gain publicity for U.S. military serving in war – something that would really draw people’s attention. Writing a proclamation would not be sufficient. Holding a mere press conference just was not bold enough. The answer – jump out of an airplane. But this was not just any airplane and this was not a random jump into a wide open field.
Health
Eggs: Worth another look
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The Lieutenant Governor took part in a tandem jump onto the state’s Capitol Mall with the elite United States Army Parachute Team, dubbed the “Golden Knights.” The aircraft, a rare C-31 Friendship, piloted by Al Aben and CW5 Jeff Sopp took the Lieutenant Governor, along with seven members of the “Knights” to an altitude of 13,500 ft. and circled the Capitol several times to get correct wind readings before the jumpers exited the craft and dropped free-fall for close to a minute before they deployed
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Full Circle
Seasons of love
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